As my third experience up close and personal with Covid ends – I’m negative! – there will be no friendly hugs for a while.

We long for that physical expression of love, friendship, and concern – and our mental and physical selves need that influx of the resulting oxytocin. Looking back on those dark days of the global pandemic, we remember how deprived and out of sorts we became from the lack of touch.

Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the ‘cuddle hormone,’ is vital to our inner balance including:

• Improved mood: Oxytocin can help you feel happier and more relaxed. 
• Reduced stress: Hugs can lower cortisol levels, which can help you feel less stressed and improve your sleep. 
• Improved cardiovascular health: Hugs can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and improve cardiovascular function. 
• Reduced inflammation: Oxytocin can help reduce inflammation and improve healing. 
• Strengthened immune system: Hugs can help strengthen your immune system. 

• Reduced cravings: Oxytocin can help lessen cravings for drugs, alcohol, and sweets. Remember how we turned to extra drinking and poor eating during Covid isolation? 
• Improved relationships: Hugs can deepen your relationships. 
• Reduced depression: Hugs can help decrease depression. 
• Improved concentration: Hugs can help you concentrate easier. 
• Improved energy: Hugs can help you feel more energetic. 

We need to have those hugs last for more than six seconds to release oxytocin at maximum levels. 

More than six seconds.

Try it.

I’ve heard some say that a great hug lasts for three breaths.

Ahhhh.

Maybe if I wore a mask?

In health –

Deidre

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